In the Western Kootenay region, a third grizzly bear from a family of four prominent bears has been euthanized. The mother bear and her three yearlings garnered attention in Nelson as they roamed the area extensively. Wildlife authorities determined that the bears posed a threat due to their habituation to human presence and their scavenging behavior in yards and garbage.
Earlier this month, the mother bear, previously relocated and returned to Nelson, was put down along with one of the yearlings. The Conservation Officer Service in British Columbia deemed the yearling unsuitable for relocation due to its young age and health issues, including a noticeable limp, likely from injury or deformity.
While the other two yearlings, a male and a female, were relocated, they later reappeared in Christina Lake. The female has since moved on, but the male continued to frequent residential areas, leading authorities to decide against a second relocation attempt. Consequently, the male yearling was euthanized following provincial guidelines for addressing human-wildlife conflicts.
Garth Mowat, a provincial wildlife biologist, highlighted the bears’ high level of habituation to humans, indicating their prolonged consumption of human food. The relocation was a final effort to encourage the bears to return to natural food sources and preserve part of the family group. Andrew Milne of the Conservation Officer Service stressed that euthanizing bears is a measure of last resort, acknowledging the emotional toll it takes on wildlife officers.
Mowat warned of increased bear activity in communities due to poor berry crops caused by drought conditions in the B.C. Interior. Officials advised the public to eliminate potential attractants such as fruit trees, garbage, and bird feeders to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts and prevent further tragic outcomes.
